Frame construction for automobile chassis



Ap i 1929- c. F. KETTERING ET Al.

Faun: consrnucnon FOR AUTOMOBILE CHASSIS Filed Jan. 24, 1927 '5 Sheets-Sheet lid April 1929- c. F. KETTERING ET AL 32 1mm: cousmucuon FOR Aurouoains CHASSIS Filed Ja n. 24. 1927 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Jwoomtoo! Ap 1929- c. F. KETTERING ET AL 1,707,732

' v FRAME CONSTRUCTION FOR AUTOMOBILE CHASSIS Filed Jan. 24, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 i gvwantwi #7 I a i A r/jf (.4224: gfi/fzm 5 5 mL/QSJOY atto'zmqi I chassis in plan, the same having the improved.

Patented Apr. 2, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATIENT. OFFICE.

'CIIIARLES r. xn'rrnnmo, or DAYTON, 0310, AND CHARLES a. snow, or nmnorr,

MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORSTO GENERAL morons mismnnn conrona'rron, or DAY- TON, 01 10, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE.

FRAME coNsrRUc'rroN ron AUTOMOBILE cmssrs Original a plication filed April 15, 1922, Serial 110,553,075. Divided and this application filed January I 24, 1927. Serial No. 163,217. 7 I

Our invention relates to motor driven vehicles and particularly to the running gear or Chassis of such vehicles. Our invention is particularly directed toward the part of the chassis commonly referred to as the frame thereof, or as the vehicle frame; and the object thereof is to provide various improvements in and relating to the frame and whereby a stronger and better frame is provided than heretofore.

Our invention in addition to various features of frame construction per seincludes certain features of frame structure whereby the engine which drives the vehicle "is the better supported from the frame than heretofore, certain other features associated with the support of the steering mechanism or devicefrom and'by the frame, and certain other constructions provided for supporting the fuel tank of the vehicle; as'well al'soas, other features involved in and relating to the frames of motor driven vehicles and whereby an improved frame construction is provided. This present application is a division, re quired by the Commissioner ofPatents, of an earlier case filed by us upon April 15, 1922, 'for improvements in motor vehicles, Serial Number 553,075. 7 Further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification wherein our invention is described, from the accompanying drawings wherein the preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated, and from the concluding claims wherein the distinguishing features wherein our invention consists are particularly pointed'out.

Referring now to the drawings: Figure 1 is a view showing a motor vehicle frameconstruction and'other features wherev in our invention consists.

F igure'2 is a View showing the frame'alone in plan, the central parts of-the side bars thereofbeing omitted to shorten the view.

'Figure 3 is a similar view showing a side view ofthe further side member of theframe Y as seen from a position inside the frame.

Figure 4 is a detail showing the manner in which the front end of the engine which drives the vehicle is supported from a front cross-bar of the frame. j v

F'gurefi isanother view showing the manfront end and on the right hand side-of the chassis frame.

Figure 9 is a side view showing a similar bracket at the front and left hand side of the frame.

F igurelO is a side view showing one of two similar spring supporting brackets made use of at the rearend of the frame.

Figure 11 1s, a view showing certain elements and features shown inv Figure 9 upon a larger scale, and more in detail. I Referrin particularly to F igure 1. where in a com l ete chassis having the features wherein our invention consists isiflustrated, the wheels of'the vehicle are designated by the reference numeral 100, and the front and rear axles by the numerals 101 and I02; and the frame of the chassis is" supported from; the axles through four; quarter-elliptic springs, the front ones of which are desigr nated by the numeral 105 and the rear ones of whichare arranged beneath torque arms '26? which are discIosed. in detail andfolaiined in our application hereinbefore referred to, and of which this one is a division.

Supported from the frame ofth'e chassis is the power plant which drivesthe vehicle, and to which our application No.'j553,938, filed April 17 ,1922', relates,'the steering gear 125, the battery. 130, the steps or running boards 131. and other'parts-notherein'involved; and the bodjy' 'of the vehicle not shown is supported fromthe'chassis, and im 'mediately by and upon the frame, as will be understood. f I

The frame per se of our invention is shown as comprising two longitudinally extending tubular side members or bars whieli ex- 1' tend from a position above the rear. axle 102 through'corres Y of T-shaped rackets 2 19', see Figure I0, which. support the frontv ends of" the rear ondingly shaped portin saso ing brackets are disclosed in detailand claimed in the parent case hereinbefore referred to and of which this one is a division. The side members aremade preferably from steel tubing of suitable diameter, and

they are securely fastened in place in the tubular portions of the spring brackets, preferably by welding, to thereby provide a stiff frame and one well adaptedjto resist tortional or twisting stresses set up therein by irregularities'in the roadway when the vehicle in use. A third and similar cross frame member 136 extends into openin s in side portions 251 of the rear brackets and serves'to tie the rear endsof the side members 135 together, as will be understood.

. The front ends of the tubular members .135, as stated above, are rigidly secured to the front spring brackets 173, 1741- by welding or otherwise, and the latter are provided with inwardly and laterally extendingportions or seats'l'TO to which the crankcase of the engine maybe securely bolted to thereby provide a c'onstructlon in which the crankcase serves the purpose of an additional cross member for the frame; which construction is shown most clearly in F gure 1 of the drawings.

By this arrangement of tubing and by the "use of broad flat feet 121 integral with the crankcase of the engine, and bolts extending through the holes 171 in the portions 170, and in the feet, it will be seen that the frame in connection with and whenthe engine is in position therein, constitutesa relatively rigid platform suppert'for the body of the vehicle.

l urtherimireycn account of the substantial freedom of the frame from twisting, the tor sienal stresses being resisted by the cross member 136 rigidly secured to the side members, and because the "crank case rests upon broad supporting surfaces of the spring .brackets'and is bolted theretoya much lighter body construction can be usedthan has here-- tofore been the case. u I

In order to provide a frontjerctension of the frame forthepurpose of supporting the front end of the engine, and in order to furnish means for supporting the hood or other struc vture whereby the engine is enclosed, sheet metal. supporting arms 13T right angular in crosssectien are riveted or other rise secured to the outersides of the front spring brackets 173, 174 in such a manner as tocxtend forwardlyand substantially in line with the tubular members 135, as best shown in Figure 1.-

The'front ends of, the members 137 are conncctedt ther by means of a cross member 1138 whichfprovides asupport for the front end of the crankcase of the engine;

, This cross member 138 is shown inFi-gures A and. 5 as comprising a vertically arranged plate which is notched at its middle portion, which feature is clearly shown in Figure 1. This notch is in the upper edge of the plate as indicated at 139, and is of such shape as to permit the extreme front endiof the crank case 140 of the engine. to rest in the lower portion thereof; and a .metal filling piece 141 so shaped as to fit snugly in the notch 139 over the crankcase portionl lO, which piece is securely fastened in place in the notch by means "at bolts 14.2,to thereby hold the front end of the crankcase in place.

The frame also includes, a cross tie member 1 13, which member is secured at its ends to the under portion of the front spring brackets 173, 17-1 in the manner indicated in Figures 2 and 8. This crossmember serves to tie the bers 135 are provided with'tubular extensions 150secured over their ends, forthe purpose of supporting the fuel tank of the vehicle.

These extensionmembers extend to a point to the rear'of the rear axle 102, and are provided with suitable means for holding the fuel tank in place.

The tubular side member 135 alsofurnish supports for the runningboards 131 through suitablebrackets lfsecured to said members. As stated above the front and rear pairs of spring brackets furnish not only means for attaching the ends of the springs; but also furnish points of attachment for the cross member 136, and for the supporting feet of the crankcase of theengine, which latter acts as a second cross member. Figure 7 and 8 illustrate the right lnnd front spri bracket 173, while Figure 9 illustrates the left handfront springbracket 17 1. These 7 two brackets are exactly the same except that they are made rights andlefts, and except for the fact that the spring bracket 17-1 is provided with means ,for'supporting the steering gear125. Although certain features of these brackets are referred to their detailed construction is forthe mest part not 1 herem described, as they are included in and the tegral with 'awieb portion 161 which ext nds downward tothe lower end of the bracket. Said bracket is'also'provided at its upper end with a flat lateral and inwardly projecting pad 170 which furnishes-a support for, and to which a supporting foot 121 of the crankcase of the engine may be secured, as indicated in Figures 1 and 2, the crankcase being secured to the projecting portion'of the bracket by bolts extending through holes 171 provided in it and through corresponding holes in the crankcase.

The only substantial difference between the two front spring brackets lies in the fact that the left bracket, see Figures 9 and 11, is

tion or housing 200 extending sidewise from b the steering gear housing, and through which portion the shaft which has the steering arm' web 190 of the spring bracket, as indicated 219'at its outer end passes. The other half 186 of this clamping means has also a semicylindrical portion corresponding with the portion 185, and a boss 188 provided with a 'bolt hole whereby said last mentioned mem ber may be attached through the boss 187 to the semi-cylindrical seat 185, as shown in 7 Figures 9 andll. The lower end of the 'portion 186 has a lug or projection 189 which is intended to fit into the space between the head of one of the bolts 165 which fastens the spring to the bracket and the front side of a in F igurell; whereby and when the steering gear is in place it may be fastened by means of a single bolt extending through holes in the lugs 187, 188.

As above stated, the tubular side frame members 135 extend through tubular portions of the rear spring brackets 249, and the brackets are securely fastened to the frame members by welding or otherwise.

The rear spring brackets differ considerably from the front spring brackets but both are identical, except that they are made rights and lefts. One of said brackets is shown in Figure 10, from which it will be noted that the same is of substantially T form having a tubular portion 250 which receives a side frame member, and a side tubular portion 251 for receiving an end of the cross tube 136. j

The side frame members extend through the tubular protions 250 and are welded in place therein, and the ends'of the cross frame member 136 extend into and are likewise secured in place in the side outlets 251 of the brackets.

The rear spring'supporting brackets are integral structures as will be appreciated, and are provided with dependent stirrups as illustrated in Figure 10; but the details of these brackets are not herein further described, becausethe brackets are included in and form a part of the invention to'which the parent application of which this one is a-division relates;

In the chassis above described the frame, made up as hereinbefore explained, is'of increased rigidity because of the features of construction to'flwhich reference has been made, this rigidity being secured by the use of the tubular side members to which the brackets are rigidly fastened, together with the cross member 136 and the second cross member provided by the crankcase of the engine. By this construction the frame constitutes a substantially rectangular platform of great rigidity and having spring brackets at its four corners, and from which the springs extend to the axles ,of the vehicle;

the front end of the engine being supported 7 y I arms extending from the front spring backets above referred to, as hereinbefore explained. Such a frame permits the use of a lighter body construction than has heretofore commonly been thought, necessary, as

thereislittle need of relyingupon the body itself to take up torsiona stresses due to unevenness 1n the roadway over which the vehicle is moving.

Having thus described our invention and explainedlthe operation thereof, we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An' improved frame construction for motor driven vehicles comprisin twolongi- 'tudin'ally extending side mem rs spaced apart from one another; two rear spring supporting brackets fastened to the rear ends of said bars; a rear cross member extending between and the ends of which are fastened to said brackets; two frontspring supporting brackets fastened to the frontends of said side members; engine supporting seats extending inwardly from said front spring brackets; two supporting arms separate from said side frame members and which arms extend forwardly from, and the rear ends of which are fastened to said front spring brackets; a cross member extending between and the ends of which are fastened to the front ends of said arms; and means carried by said cross member for supporting the front end of the engine which drives the vehicle, Y

2. An improved frame construction for motor driven vehicles comprising two longi tudinally extending side members spaced apart from one another; two front spring supporting brackets fastened to the front ends of said side members; engine support spring brackets; and a crossmember extending between and supportedby the front ends of said arms, and which cross member is Q adapted to support the front end of the engine which drives the vehicle.

3. In improved frame construction for motor driven vehicles, two side frame members having front spring supportingbrackets at their front ends; two supporting arms separate from and the rear ends of which are fastened to said brackets; and a vertically arranged plate extending between and the ends of which are fastened to the front ends 7 of said arms, and which plate is adapted to support the front end of the engine which drives the vehicle.

4. In improved frame construction for I motor driven vehicles, a vertically arranged plate fastened to the front end of the frame, and which plate has a' centrally arranged notch in its upper edge; a filling piece fitting within said notch; and means for holding said filling piece in place within said notch; said plate and, filling piece being shaped to engage and support the front end of the engine which drives the vehicle,

I11 51. frameconstruction a spring supporting bracket fixedly secured to its forward end; and means carried by said bracket for supporting the steering column and arm of the stee'rlng mechanism of the'vehicle.

G. In a frame construction for motor driven I v V I V for motor driven veh cles a side frame member having vehicles, a side frame member having a spring supporting bracket fixedly secured to ltSfQlNYitlCl end;an inwardly extendmg engine supporting seat integral with said bracket; and means upon said bracket for supporting the steering column and arm of the steeringinechanism of the vehicle.

' '7. In frame construction 'for motor driven vehicles aside frame member having a vehicles, a side frame member having a spring supporting bracket fixedly secured to its forward end; means carried by said bracket for supporting a tubular portion of the housing of the steering mechanism of the vehicle; and a supporting arm secured to said bracket and extending forwardly therefrom,"

andv which arm has an opening arranged in line with and through which the tubular portionaforesaid extends. I

In testimony whereof application.

CHARLES FIKETTERING. CHARLES, snorrr.

we have signed this 

